THE Hong Kong dock strike took a bizarre turn with the smaller Federation on Hong Kong & Kowloon Labour union calling off its work-to-rule campaign.
Minor dock union drops out, major union continues strike for 20pc hike
THE Hong Kong dock strike took a bizarre turn with the smaller Federation on Hong Kong & Kowloon Labour union calling off its work-to-rule campaign, having accepted a 1.4 hourly overtime deal from employers and concession on holidays for the terminal's engineers.
The leftist labour Federation has little influence on the strike led by its larger rival, the Confederation of Trade Unions, which is holding fast to its 20 per cent pay increase demand.
Dockers, who are paid an average of HK$20,000 (US$2,575) a month, have refused the five to seven per cent pay increase, which employers have been willing to consider.
HIT reports that work at the terminal has suffered delays and shippers report the delays are manageable and the import side, while exports are moving smoothly. April is still the slack season so terminals are not under great pressure.
The union also appears to be re-enforcing its siege of tents, canopies and banners around the Cheung Kong Centre in Central, where the ultimate owner of Hongkong International Terminals (HIT) is headquartered.
HIT, which controls 70 per cent of Hong Kong harbour container movement, is owned by Singapore-listed Hutchison Port Holdings Trust, which in turn is owned by Hong Kong conglomerate Hutchison Whampao.
HIT took out a full-page advertisement in Hong Kong newspapers on Saturday, saying the demand for a 20 per cent increase in pay was unreasonable and urged strikers to return to negotiations with the stevedoring contractors, who directly employ them.
As it happens in many ports, the terminal operators, HIT in this case, contract the supply of labour to stevedores, who directly employ the dockers. Technically, HIT does not employ them, but greatly influences how much they are paid.
